香蕉视频

McGill researchers participate in Japanese-led FANTOM consortium

Scientists at the Omics Science Center (OSC) of the RIKEN Yokohama Institute in Japan 鈥� along with researchers from McGill University and other institutions worldwide 鈥� are challenging current notions of how genes are controlled in mammals. Three years of intensive research by members of the international FANTOM consortium will culminate with the publication of several milestone scientific papers in Nature Genetics and other journals on April 20.

FANTOM4, the fourth stage of the Functional Annotation of the Mammalian cDNA collaboration, is led by Dr. Yoshihide Hayashizaki of OSC. Dr. Jos茅e Dostie, a biochemist at McGill鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine joined the FANTOM4 collaboration in 2007 and is its only Canadian member.

For several years, FANTOM researchers have provided the scientific community with extensive data on the genome of mammals, including detailed information on molecular function, biology and individual cell components. Now, the FANTOM4 stage of the collaboration has culminated in a breakthrough that will alter the way scientists understand transcription, the process of cellular copying and reproduction.

鈥淭his study really challenges the way we understand cellular differentiation,鈥� explained Dr. Dostie, who participated in the primary FANTOM4 research and also authored a satellite paper for publication in the journal Genome Biology. 鈥淭he dogma right now is that there are so-called 鈥榤aster regulators,鈥� a series of protein switches that sit in specific places on the genome and induce genes. This is supposed to lead to a cascade that leads to cellular differentiation.

鈥淭he FANTOM4 studies show that this thesis is incorrect and there are no master regulators at all,鈥� she continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like turning everything on like a switch. Instead, it looks like the expression of some genes needs to be decreased while others are increased in a more subtle, but coordinated way.鈥�

FANTOM4 is the first report of a large-scale gene network based on an experimental data-set and is likely to generate considerable excitement in the scientific community. The information is important for life science and medical researchers trying to uncover the processes by which cells undergo conversion or become cancerous. It is also related 聽to controlling the growth and differentiation of stem cells and ensuring their safety for use in regenerative medicine.

鈥淲e are proud that we have created groundbreaking research in understanding more about how genes regulate cells at the molecular level and we want to acknowledge all consortium members for their great contribution to the research effort,鈥� said Dr. Harukazu Suzuki, scientific co-ordinator of the FANTOM4 consortium.

ABOUT McGILL UNIVERSITY

香蕉视频, founded in Montreal, Que., in 1821, is Canada鈥檚 leading post-secondary institution. It has two campuses, 11 faculties, 10 professional schools, 300 programs of study and more than 34,000 students. McGill attracts students from more than 160 countries around the world. Almost half of McGill students claim a first language other than English 鈥� including 6,000 francophones 鈥� with more than 6,200 international students making up almost 20 per cent of the student body.